Analyzing Jason Reynolds 'Lesley University Commencement Speech'

Students spend hours upon hours cooped up in a school learning about a variety of different subjects. Even though schools are meant to prepare students for their future, graduates are often overwhelmed by the liveliness of the real world. In the engaging speech, “Lesley University Commencement Speech” delivered by Jason Reynolds, an award-winning author, he establishes his credibility through recalling prior experiences and elevates everyday objects to states of an idea, which ultimately makes people desire to help others. The majority of Reynolds' speech consists of him recalling a valuable experience from high school; a story that showed him how every decision has consequences, even if one is doing the right thing. He states, “Mr. Williams warned us that if he caught any student with their

Later in the story, Reynolds recalls “We gathered around to watch it, mortified, afraid, confused, until finally two young ladies shuffled into the circle, scooped Confucius up like a live grenade, and tossed the fish back into the tank,” which showed how the two ladies cared more about doing the right thing than getting punished for it. They were later suspended, but the teacher was happy they had made the right decision. The prior experience of Reynolds effectively established his credibility. Adding to his credibility, Reynolds’ use of symbolism throughout the entirety of his speech resulted in the audience understanding and embracing the message he spread. His most prominent example of this is when he states, “scooped Confucius up like a live grenade.” This quote refers to the two students picking up the fish, Confucius, in order to help it. Comparing Confucius to a live grenade is reasonable because of the consequences that came with the action. Although it was just a fish, knowing the punishment of the action before they complete it, makes it difficult to do the right